When I read Fran’s editorial in the February NZ Baptist, “Fight insecurity with truth,” I could identify with her story.

It is close on 30 years since my husband and I went to our yearly church weekend camp. As had happened before, I felt very insecure in spite of my outward bravado. The Saturday was planned as an action-filled fun time, but for me it became a day of misery and loneliness while the rest of the people seemed to have a great time.

Hiding my feelings from my husband made things worse and as a result sleep did not come easy that night. I pleaded with God to take away this paralysing fear of “not measuring up.” I longed to go home, lock the door and cry my heart out.

However, God had heard my plea and during the morning service we sang the same scripture as Fran’s pastor read out in her church, from Zephaniah 3:17. That scripture in song is in the King James version, “The Lord thy God, in the midst of thee is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing; the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.”

Suddenly the heavens opened. God broke through with the power of His word. The Lord was in our midst rejoicing over me with singing.

All the strain, pain and insecurity left me and I felt God’s love and acceptance of me as I am.

Had I been cured permanently? No, on and off I struggled, but over the years I have learned to live more and more in the “assurance of God’s redeeming love,” as Fran has put it so beautifully. And I know that she will succeed, too. Praise God!

– Maria Lethbridge
Mt Roskill, Auckland